Fort Christmas Carnival To Mix Fun With Safety

Neighborhood news - EAST ORANGE

Fort Christmas Historical Park will be the site of a Communities Uniting Together festival this weekend.

The event will take place from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and focus on drug and violence awareness and how the community can work together to combat these problems.

It will look very much like a carnival, with games, booths and food. There will also be performances by several student groups, including the University High School cheerleaders and Discovery Middle School chorus.

''The event is geared toward children and families,'' said Keith Baber, an instructional support counselor for the student assistance programs for Orange County Public Schools.

''Our goal is to give parents support and access to certain agencies, particularly relating to drug, alcohol and violence,'' he said.

Several organizations, including Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Spouse Abuse, Center for Drug Free Living, Winter Park Health Foundation and We Care, will have booths.

The free event is sponsored by Columbia Elementary, Discovery Middle and University High schools, along with the Parent, Teacher, Student Association and the Orange County Parks and Recreation Department.

The park is at 1300 Fort Christmas Road. For information, call (407) 568-4149.

- ART AND FOLIAGE

ALMOST 25,000 plant and art lovers are expected at the 36th annual Apopka Art and Foliage Festival this weekend at Kit Land Nelson Park.

The annual event highlights the region's multimillion-dollar plant industry and will offer roses, shrubs and foliage plants for sale.

Visitors will also be able to browse through the works of more than 150 artists and artisans, who will be selling their wares and competing for thousands of dollars in prizes.

There will also be live entertainment and food.

For those with novice green thumbs, some of Florida's top plant care experts will give tips on purchasing plants and caring for them.

If you're interested in learning more about the area's plant industry, bus tours visiting several foliage nurseries will depart at 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m. The cost is $2.50 and riders receive a plant.

The event, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, is free and sponsored by the Apopka Woman's Club. The park, formerly known as Apopka City Park, is on North Park Avenue.

For information, call the chamber at (407) 886-1441.

- DRUGS IN EAST ORANGE

THE ORANGE County Sheriff's Office will present an East Orange County Neighborhood Watch meeting at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Faith United Methodist Church. The topic will be drugs in the neighborhoods. An Orange County deputy sheriff and former narcotics agent will make a presentation.

For information, call Marian Hultgreen of the Orange County Sheriff's Office at (407) 249-4508. The church is at 1411 N. Dean Road.